Local Q&A: Tom Schraeder on the month-long 'Chicago, I Love You' fest at Lilly's

When the Tom Schraeder & His Ego frontman started planning a release party for “Chicago, I Love You,” the latest album from his namesake band, he forgot one important detail: to complete the record itself.

Instead, Schraeder left the album on the backburner as a concert he initially conceived as single-day event grew into a free music and arts festival that will take over Lincoln Park bar Lilly's for an entire month beginning Saturday, Sept. 1. It includes performances from Schraeder, Mars Williams, Brighton, MA, a DJ set from Pat Sansone of Wilco and much more. Find more information at tomschraeder.blogspot.com.

“The beauty of releasing things on your own is you can kind of do it whenever you want,” said Schraeder, 28. “If that means the record comes out three months from now, that's OK, because I think we've created something beautiful here.”

Reached at home in Lakeview, the musician opened up about the inspiration behind the newborn festival, what he'd tell the mayor if he landed a face-to-face meeting and if he'd ever consider changing his band's name.

You got your start playing at Lilly's. How would you have described the scene there in those early days?

It was a special time, and at first it was strange to come back and present this idea to Lilly because I owe my entire career to [her]. They had an open mic every Tuesday, and it was with some of my favorite bands, like Joe Pug, Bailiff and Jeremy Miller from Rambos. That whole scene started here, so it felt right to bring it back and create memories with a whole new group of musicians.

Has putting this festival together given you a better appreciation for what makes Chicago unique?

We're our own thing. We're not L.A. We're not N.Y. There are a lot of people coming in now and making money off massive festivals that bring in blog bands, which is just how the industry is. We need to stand up a bit more as artists for our actual local scene. I would love to sit down with the mayor and be like, “This is what's up. We have the best music scene in the world. Work it.”

If you landed a sit-down with the mayor, what's one thing you would you push for?

I think our airports should play something like The Chicago Mixtape, for sure. Something that represents what our local scene is doing.

Was it difficult to get musicians to participate in a free event?

At first it definitely was, but I would say 95 percent of the artists got on board within a day or so of me sharing the concept with them.

I take it you're a skilled salesman.

[Laughs] Somehow it's not that difficult [for me] to persuade people. Maybe I just have a big mouth and make people feel sorry for me or something. Once people heard what we were trying to do in uniting the scene, we started to get all these emails from other people wanting to contribute. It went from maybe having a couple bands a night to having artists and DJs and photographers. It's still expanding.

Were you taken aback by anyone who reached out?

I was really honored to have [Wilco's] Pat Sansone come on board. And Mars Williams, who's touring nonstop around the world with Psychedelic Furs. Really, there's been a bit of a thrill with confirming each band.

Did you consider making all the participants get a Chicago tattoo to prove their loyalty to the city?

[Laughs] Only on their forehead.

What was the initial inspiration behind expanding a simple record release show into a sprawling, 30-day affair celebrating your hometown?

I've had this extreme love for the city since I was a kid, but I'm such a dreamer I always wanted to leave. When my career started I was getting these offers outside Chicago and I was getting excited about all these other scenes. For about six years I toured ... and then I realized I was ready to do something specifically for Chicago instead of trying to run away.

What cities did you consider moving to?

For a long time I'd choose these cities like N.Y. or L.A. based on which one I thought would help my career. I used to care so much about handshakes and finding the industry people. Now it's a matter of not caring. I only want to make music, and if even one person hears it that's great.

Does that mean you'd considering dropping “ego” from the band name?

I don't know. I wouldn't mind changing the name at some point, that's for sure. We all have regrets, but I wanted to be that rock star for so long and now I have no interest in that. For the first time I feel like I'm over that youthful pride I had, you know?

Andy Downing is a RedEye special contributor. @redeyechimusic

Tom Schraeder personality testWhat's the last album you bought? “Oh! It was 'Live at the Quarter' by Townes Van Zandt. That double LP.”Song you've listened to on repeat recently? “Glass Lux. They're local, and I can't stop listening to their six songs.”Song you never want to hear again? “Anything by Muse. I have great hate for them.”Best concert you've seen in the last year? “I'd say Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos over at Lincoln Hall.”New band you don't know personally that deserves to be big? “Jesse Woods. He's an Austin dude and everything he writes is just perfect.”Favorite movie ever? “High Fidelity”Chicago's best music venue? “Wow. Well, I have great love for Schubas and the Hideout, but I have to say Lilly's. Lilly's is my home.”